I've heard that many people are clipping their wings on the 4-star series. Is this to make it more responsive? Would you recommend doing this for a first time low wing plane?(I don't want to build it normally and clip it later on)....also how much is taken off....I presume it's around 1 bay on each side?

Thanks,
Chris

Taking off the wingtip bay on each side will increase the roll rate / make the ailerons a bit more responsive. It's still a floater with the wings shortened like that, so don't be concerned about it being more difficult to fly or land.

II would say it's worth clipping if you have the 60 or 120 version. However, if this is your second plane, I would leave it as designed. If you don't find the roll rate to your satifaction, then clip the wings.

I don't see why clipping the wing later would be a big deal. Just make sure to trace the tip ply rib so you'll have a spare set if you do decide to clip later. Also, put a hinge inboard of the second-to-last rib, so you don't need to rehinge after clipping. If you're worried about too many CA hinges on the aileron loading down your servo, put only half a CA hinge at the tip.

Look at it thisway: it sure is a lot easier to clip one bay than it is to add one bay later. I'm sheeting the d-tube and leaving the wing at full span on my 4*60.

I left my 4*60 full-span. Now that I'm trying to add trim colors to the wing, I wish I had sheeted the D-tube.

Thanks....when you sheet the wing, how do you get the balsa sheets even with the leading and trailing edges? (ie; the leading edge strip is flush with the top and bottom of the ribs....any balsa sheeting would not be flush?)

Thanks again,
Chris

The ribs that the sheeting goes over are cut smaller the thickness of the sheeting. Those suckers fit right in there.

The first 3 ribs are actually smaller than the rest of the ribs to allow for the sheeting to fit perfectly.

If yours aren't then you used the wrong ribs in the wrong places.

I believe we're talking about more than the centre section. DUH!

I glued the sheeting on and then sanded to shape the leading edge. I also capped the ribs behind the sheeting and sheeted in front of the TE. The airfoil is a little thicker as a result but the 4*60 flies great.

Thanks...would it be easier to just trim down the front of all the ribs the same thinkness of the sheeting (ie; make them identical to the center section ribs)? It just seems like less work (no need to cap the ribs and sand down flush).

Chris

That should work, but you decide.

Yes, I'll be trimming the outboard ribs to the same profile as the 3 inboard ribs. I don't mind sheeting over the ribs as it and cap strip the aft sections, except I can't find a way to tie in center ribs.